"A new idea is first condemned as ridiculous, and then dismissed as trivial, until finally it becomes what everybody knows."

-William James

One of the great war films of all time was made in the '50's, "Away All Boats", starring Jeff Chandler. It chronicles the adventures of a fictional APA (Amphibious Assault Ship, forerunner of today's LHA'a), USS BELINDA, fighting its way across the Pacific. The ship's skipper, Captain Jebediah Hawkes, is a seasoned veteran, a good guy, but not liked by the crew. They don't understand many of his methods and think he's aloof. In fact, his methods are genuinely innovative, and ultimately every one of his strategies saves the ship from disaster.

Then comes the Battle of Okinawa. BELINDA is struck by Kamikaze's. Many sailors are killed and the ship is dead in the water, no propulsion, with large gaping holes below the water-line. Captain Hawkes is mortally wounded and unconscious. The crew must figure out what to do on their own. They start to argue; one says we should do this, the other says, you're crazy, we must do that. Meanwhile, more Kamikaze's are headed their way.

Captain Hawkes hears the arguing through an open porthole in his stateroom, and with his last ounce of strength drags himself off the bed, to the bridge. He cries out to the startled officers with his last breath: "The children lead the mother, the children lead the mother!" He collapses and dies. The crew tries to figure out what he meant, and then they realize..."The children lead the mother!" Captain Hawkes was telling them to lower the landing craft into the water and have them tow the ship to safe waters! They quickly did this and saved the ship!

Captain Hawkes was at first shunned by the crew because they couldn't understand his novel way of doing business. Today we'd call him an "out-of-the-box thinker." We should always be on the lookout for new and better ways of doing things. Much of humanity's progress is a result of people who were not satisfied with the status quo and found novel and better ways to improve life for everyone.

Dear God:I ask that no Airman, Coast Guardsman, Marine, Sailor, Soldier, Reservist, or National GuardsmanFeel alone or forgotten.O Israel, hope in the Lord;For with the Lord there is loving kindness,And with Him is abundant redemption.And He will redeem IsraelFrom all his iniquities.

Psalm 130:7 & 8

6
posted on 07/21/2012 7:01:35 PM PDT
by Kathy in Alaska
(((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)))

In the coldest and darkest days of the American Revolution, General George Washington raised his prayers for the survival of his beleaguered Army and of the new Nation. The Lord answered those prayers, upheld his Army through a punishing nadir to everlasting glory and bestowed His manifold benefits upon the new Nation.

In like manner, let our prayers now rise lie a fountain for our Heroes in the American Armed Forces who seek to secure the benefits of Freedom on behalf of a people hungry for them. Father, look on our prayers for them with favor, guide their steps in righteousness and keep them in the shelter of Your Healing Wings. Bless and uphold them in the performance of their Mission. Through Jesus Christ, Your Son, with the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever, Amen.

Heavenly Father, Lord of the Nations, unto Your Divine Mercy we commend the souls of these brave men and women who have fallen in the service of our Beloved Nation and in defense of the Freedoms we hold dear. We pray that You gather them in Your loving embrace, that You cause Your countenance to shine upon them, and that You vouchsafe their souls to dwell eternally in Your Divine Presence. Through Jesus Christ Your Son, with the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever, Amen.

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

Heard via email from Mrs SandRat today. All is going well with her visit with her Mother but the issues with Daugh#1 are all still kind of up in the air. Daugh flew on to be with Madi’s low life father (the low life with no honor) in DC.

Worried the she will keep to the plans and return as scheduled with her Mom.

Thanks very much, Kathy! Mary is already out on her next gig - a week-long stay in Southern Maryland - she's a Counselor at Special Love's BRASS Camp - it's a camp for brothers and sisters of children with cancer. She's been counseling there for the last seven or eight years.

We're still behind the power curve on the basement - hope to get it substantially completed before the end of the week.

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

My friend Melissas 9-year-old daughter Sydnie was in the hospital for chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant when I had a dream about her. I dreamed she was staying in a central room at the hospital with her parents. Surrounding her room was a block of other rooms where family and friends were staying and continually praying for her during her times of treatment.

In real life, Sydnie wasnt physically surrounded by family and friends in adjacent rooms. But spiritually speaking, she was and is surrounded by prayer and love.

The apostle Paul seemed to have a desire to be surrounded by prayer. In most of his letters to churches, he requested to be remembered in prayer to the Lord (2 Cor. 1:11; Eph. 6:18-20; Col. 4:2-4; Philem. 1:22). To the believers in Rome, he wrote, Now I beg you, brethren, . . . that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me (Rom. 15:30). He knew that he could not be effective in his service for God without His power.

The Bible tells us that Jesus also prays for us (John 17:20; Heb. 7:25), as does the Holy Spirit, whose prayers are according to the will of God (Rom. 8:27). What a comfort to be surrounded by prayer!

We give to those we hold most dearNo greater help and careThan when we give them to the Lord,Surrounding them with prayer. D. De Haan

In the coldest and darkest days of the American Revolution, General George Washington raised his prayers for the survival of his beleaguered Army and of the new Nation. The Lord answered those prayers, upheld his Army through a punishing nadir to everlasting glory and bestowed His manifold benefits upon the new Nation.

Prayers we need again today!

19
posted on 07/21/2012 7:56:11 PM PDT
by Kathy in Alaska
(((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)))

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. "

Our Founding Fathers secured this essential freedom against overwhelming odds through great adversity, securing it first with the blood of our Patriots shed in the War of the Revolution, then through the course of intense and extended debate, leading finally to the adoption of the Bill of Rights.

It is under attack now, not only by the media, not only by academia, but by the Executive Branch of the United States Government itself. The President and Department of Justice have abdicated their sworn duty to uphold and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. They have instead, with full knowledge of the enormity of their acts, systematically betrayed the American People in repeated transgressions and usurpations, thereby assuming the role of principal domestic enemy in what will be the defining Constitutional struggle of our times.

We are called at this crucial moment to bear Witness, to uphold and to defend this vital and First Freedom. Without Freedom of Conscience, what Freedom could we continue to enjoy?

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

In a word, her flight was an ordeal from start to finish. Her flight from Nairobi was over an hour late taking off and by the time she got to Istanbul she missed her connecting flight to JFK. She had about an 8-hour layover in the Istanbul airport.

Her eventual flight to JFK departed at about Noon our time and she got in at JFK after 10:00 pm. Thus, she missed her connection to Baltimore, which had taken off at 8:30. I look into Amtrak - the cheapest fare I could find that allowed checked baggage was over $100.00. We decided to book her on Greyhound - cost of $40.00.

As it turns out she had met a nice young man on the flight out of Nairobi who was driving to Delaware. He and his father drove Mary down to the Maryland House rest area on I-95 in Maryland, where she was met by Mrs. MacNessa, her brothers David and John-Man, and Sir Winston. They brought her home from there, arriving at about 0500. A twenty-four hour odyssey, but all ended well.

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found; Was blind, but now I see. . Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, . And grace my fears relieved; How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed! . Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home. . The Lord has promised good to me, His Word my hope secures; He will my Shield and Portion be, As long as life endures. . Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, And mortal life shall cease, I shall possess, within the veil, A life of joy and peace. . The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, The sun forbear to shine; But God, Who called me here below, Will be forever mine. . When weve been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun, Weve no less days to sing Gods praise Than when wed first begun.

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

DEAR LORD, who suffered torment, agony, and death upon the Cross to free our souls from the chains of iniquity, protect and defend our troops. Guide them in the performance of their duties. Strengthen them to endure hard- ship, danger and deprivation in Your service. Let their efforts free the people of Iraq and Afghan- istan from the chains of terror and slavery, foster a lasting peace in the region, and bring all to a greater share in Your Mercy. Amen.

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

Eternal Father, grant we pray To all Marines both night and day, The Courage, Honor, Strength and Skill Their Land to serve, Thy Law Fulfill. Be Thou the Shield forevermore From every peril to the Corps!

This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:24(KJV)

A Blessed Lords Day To You And Yours!

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

I wonder if any of all the FRiends and Heroes who post on this Canteen are familiar with the story of The Twenty-three Angels?

The story was related to me by a fellow Navy 'Nam Vet 12 or 15 years ago and I have forgotten most of it. All I remember is that someone was in danger in Africa, apparently in the jungle with no weapons. During the greatest hour of danger, he was attended by twenty-three angels, who kept him safe from harm.

Ultimately he returned to America. He went to a church, maybe his own, and related the events of his trip to Africa, and that he had been protected by twenty-three angels in his hour of greatest danger. There he learned that during the time of his greatest danger, he had been prayed for by twenty-three of the members of the congregation of that church.

I'm sorry that I can't remember the particulars of that story in any greater detail. Is there anyone here who can fill in the gaps for me?

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

Yes, another mission - this one much shorter and not so far from home - she's about two hours away. The first year she did this one she was only 15 - I had to drive her down myself. It's a project that is near and dear to our hearts. I may have mentioned on the Canteen that my son David was diagnosed with a soft-tissue cancer in 1999, when he was 5 years old. The Special Love Camps and Weekends were a great support to us during his treatment and after. Mary has stayed with it as a counselor - I think she has an innate affinity to people in need. She has done well in this, in the African missions and in projects at St. Joe's for the developmentally challenged.

We are very proud of her.

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

"Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." -from THE BIBLE: Philippians 4:4-7

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